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5 Tips for Taking Care of Your Poinsettias

There is nothing worse than getting a Poinsettia and have it not look good by Christmas. And unfortunately, this is all too common. And the unfortunate thing is that there several factors that can cause problems.

6 Tips for Taking Care of Your Live Christmas Decor

Have you ever got live greens and only to have them look bad before the holidays? While we can’t guarantee that these tips will prevent the greens from turning brown and losing needles before Christmas, here are a few practices that can help prevent it from happening.

How to Control Spotted Lanternfly

If you have Spotted Lanternfly there is probably one question that you have. And that is, “How do I get rid of them?” But with this being said, the answer to this question is somewhat complex. The reason for this is that it depends on what stage of life the Spotted Lanternflies are at. Beyond this, we do not want to think of it as a battle, but we want to think of it as a war. And a war that needs to be fought on all fronts.

The Life Cycle of Spotted Lanternfly

With the Spotted Lanternfly being found in Lancaster, one of the most important things for controlling them will be identifying them. This is especially important since the nymph stages (Instar stages) look so different than the adult stage. In fact, even the different nymph stages can look radically different from each other.

Using Trap Trees for Spotted Lanternfly Control

As we have been saying in the past few posts, the Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species that has been a big issue and will continue to be so. More than that, we also covered that it will be an issue for everyone, not just those who have trees and gardens. And the reason for this is the honeydew that Spotted Lanternflies produce quickly turns to mold leaves a black residue. This residue can cover any number of things from the patio to your siding, even your car. (more…)

Removing Tree of Heaven for Spotted Lanternfly Control

Spotted Lanternflies are considered to be a nuisance pest. For this reason, it is illegal to allow them to knowingly exist on your property. Failure to do so or to hire someone to do it for you can lead to the PA Department of Agriculture (PA-DOA) coming in, taking care of the issue, and charging the homeowner. Furthermore, the PA-DOA also mandates that the Spotted Lanternfly only be controlled through approved methods. And one of the of the best ways that the PA-DOA recommends to control the Spotted Lanternfly is through controlling the Spotted Lanternflies favorite plant, the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima).

5 Thoughts on Fall Decorating

Fall is one of the best times to decorate. There is just so much that you can do. Sure, spring is beautiful, but there are some of us that just have a sweet spot for fall.

And this is certainly understandable. Fall is just such a beautiful time. Whereas spring is full of greens and pastels and colors, fall brings solid earthy, colors like reds, yellows, and oranges.

If you are trying to decorate for fall consider these tips:

Remember the standby items

One of the most important things with fall decorating is to start with a good foundation and that foundation generally is best done with the standby items like mums/asters, kale/ornamental cabbage, and pumpkins. Get even 2 of these items and you are on the right track.

Don’t forget about gourds

Gourds are something that are often underated. There are just so many different shapes, sizes, and colors. Consider using several different types to add in to your displays or even to make an entire display.

Straw Bales make a good base for displays

Straw Bales say fall. Consider using some in your display to add to the fall look. You can get either small bales or full size.

Corn shocks can be a nice touch

Corn shocks are a nice touch in a corner or on posts. Consider putting them on porch posts or on your lampost.

Consider using some non-traditional colors

Although when we think of fall the first thing that we often think of is reds, oranges, and yellows, there is a place for other colors. Instead of using only orange pumkins, consider using white pumpkins, gray blue hubbard squash, or long, skinny neck pumkins.

Do you have any other thoughts on fall decorating? What do you do? Comment below!

What You Need to Know about Spotted Lanternfly

Chances are that you have heard of the Spotted Lanternfly. There have been countless articles, flyers, and news segments on it. It is especially important in light of the fact that Spotted Lanternfly has been found in Lancaster, and will continue to be an issue.

In the last post, we looked at Burning bush and why it is so hard to find. In this post, we will look at replacements for Burning Bush.

Your greenhouse and garden center! We save you time by carrying a full line of annuals, perennials, veggies, trees, shrubs, and much more! We have both indoor greenhouse and outdoor shrub and perennial areas. Stop by our nearby locations in Smoketown, Intercourse, or visit our online perennial, shrub and tree store at Bowerandbranch.com